I have always dreamt of living on my own farm with chickens running around the yard. I even once had a vision board with a picture of a hen walking through an old farmhouse kitchen! Now that we have over 70 free-range chickens here at Blue Stallion Farm this dream has come true.
Having that many chickens we needed to build them a space of there own that we now call the chicken garden. In this area there are multiple coops that are fenced in for the chicken's shelter and safety. During the day they roam free and at night we put them to bed inside their coops, keeping them safe from predators.
Another perk of having chickens is that their manure is also valuable- it is high in nitrogen which makes a great addition to our compost. Because our chickens are free-range, they spend most of the day scratching the ground looking for insects, slugs and worms to eat. This helps take care of unwanted bugs from our garden. They also eat weeds that grow in the grass, so basically the chickens covert pesky bugs and weeds into fertilizer and eggs!
In addition to these great benefits of having chickens is the fact that they are just really cool animals. We love to watch them waddling around and pecking at the ground. They are all beautiful in their own right with their feathered outer coats containing many colors and patterns. Chickens are smarter than they get credit for and we love to hang out with ours. They have become part of our family. We have even formed a special bond with one hen in particular named, Gertrude. She comes when you call her name and walks 100 yards by herself from the coop to the main house to come inside for oatmeal and treats. Gertrude will sit in a basket and go for a ride in the bicycle or even sit on our swing and let the girls gently push her. How is that for personality!?
Adding chickens to your menagerie means you have to do some regular coop cleaning and poop management. It might not be the ideal chore but it is key for a healthy environment. But if you have ever tasted an egg from a free-range chicken, you know the payback is delicious. You can taste the difference between our eggs and commercial eggs. We've even done family taste tests to prove it! The difference can also be seen in the color of the yolk (ours are more rich and golden orange) and height of the yolk (ours stand higher when fried). When cooking with free range eggs, the whites hold together better and are much fresher. It's tough to tell how old a carton of eggs in the supermarket really is. Nothing beats grabbing an egg from the coop in the morning and frying it up the same day.
2- If you buy chicks, keep in mind that they won't start laying eggs until about six months of age. They will have to be kept indoors under brooder lights until fully feathered- about six weeks.
3- Make certain the breed you choose will thrive in your climate. Hardy choices include Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons and Leghorns. For colorful eggs, check out Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas and Araucanas.
